4 Gas Victims Released

Two Remain In Hospital

EAST HARTFORD — Four people, including an infant, who suffered carbon monoxide poisoning earlier this week have been released from Hartford Hospital, officials said Wednesday.

The four were among six victims who were taken to the hospital after firefighters were called to 15 Crosby St. and found the residents had been exposed to high levels of the deadly gas, Assistant Fire Chief Vincent Palmeri said

Two of the victims are still being treated at Hartford Hospital, Palmeri said. He did not know what their condition is.

The people released from the hospital were not allowed to go back to their apartment and are staying temporarily at a hotel, Palmeri said.

An investigation showed that a deteriorating chimney caused the gas to back up, making them ill, he said. The building, which contains four apartments, has been declared uninhabitable.

Firefighters were called about 3:30 p.m. Monday and measured a carbon monoxide level of 485 parts per million in the apartment - a life-threatening amount for someone exposed over a period of time, Palmeri said.

Palmeri said that someone exposed to a carbon monoxide level of 400 parts per million for three hours is in immediate risk of death.

Carbon monoxide poisoning is prevalent in the winter months because people rely on fireplaces or heaters that are not properly vented, and windows to their homes are usually closed. Palmeri urged residents to install carbon monoxide detectors and have their heating equipment inspected.